Brick and tile kiln



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

J. I. KNAPP, J. G. MCKENZIE 81; W. HUMPHREY. BRICK AND TILE KILN.

No. 348,916. Patented Sept. '7, 1886.

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(N0 Modei.) 3 SheetsSheet 3. J. I. KNAPP, J50. MCKENZIE & W. HUMPHREY.

BRICK AND TILE K ILN.

Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

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JOHN T. KNAPP, JOSEPH O. MCKENZIE, AND TILLIAAI HUMPHR-EY, OF ADRIAN,MICHIGAN.

BRICK AND TILE KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,916, datedSeptember '7, 1886.

Application filed January i 1896. Serial No. 189,844. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that we, JOHN I. KNAPP, JO- snra O. MoKnNzIE, and \VILLIAMHUM- PHREY, citizens of the United States, residing at Adrian, in thecountyofLenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Brick and Tile Kilns, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Ourinvention relates to improvements in kilns for burning brick, tile,and other articles, and more particularly to that class known asdowndraft kilns.

The object ofou rinvention isto havethe heat and products of combustionso under the con trol of the operator that the heat will be readilydistributed to all parts of the kiln, or con centrated at a particularpoint in the kiln, if desired.

Our invention consists in connecting the furnaces with theinterior ofthe kiln by means of fire bags or fines, by which the heat and productsof combustion are carried up to the top of the kiln and mingled with hotair COIlling up through an open space between the outer and inner wallsof the kiln, and in pro vidingseparate compartments or chambers belowthe door of the kiln,which are controlled by suitable dampers, so thatthe heat can be directed to the center or sides of the kiln, as may bedesired. Other novel features will be described more full y hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview of our improved kiln. Fig. 2 is also a vertical longi tudinalsectional view of a portion of two kilns joined by a flue, through whichthe waste heat of a newly-burned kiln is carried over to dry the brickor tile in the adjacent kiln. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view. Fig. 4 is aplan View of the supplemental floor.

Aindicates the main body or outer wall of the kiln, which is built on asuitable foundation located below the ground level, and B is an innerwall, separated from the outer wall, A, by an intervening space, C, saidinner wall being built up from the foundation, and entirely separatedfrom the exterior wall, ex-

cept at the top, where it joins the roof or archit from being pushedagainst the outer wall. The space or narrow chamber 0 is provided withsuitable openings for the admission of air from the outside, or whereseveral kilns are arranged together the chamber 0 is connected to theflue E, through which the waste D of the kiln, and suitable braces toprevent heat from one kiln is brought over into the next kilu,andutilized to dry the brick in said kiln, and to mingle with the gasesfrom the furnaces, and thus effect a complete combustion.

It will be understood that when the wasteheat is being transferred fromone kiln to another through the flue E that the draft is reversed, andthe heat is drawn upward through the kiln, enters the chamber or space(3 through the perforations F, and thence to the flue E, and enters thespace 0 of the adjacent kiln, as shown in Fig. 2.

The chamber 0 is connected to or communicates with the binning-chamberof the kiln by means of a series of open-lugs, F, near the top thereof,as will be more fully hereinafter described.

G are the furnaces, any desired number of which are located inthe outerwall ofthe kiln, and extend through both walls of the kiln. Thesefurnaces may be ofany suitable kind,and communicate with the fire bagsor chambers H, which direct the products of combustion upward anddeposit or distribute them into the top of the burning-chamber, wherethey meet with the hot air coming through the perforations F from thehot-air space 0, which on mingling with the gas from the furnaceseffects a complete combustion.

I are air-flues located in the arches of the furnace, and communicatewith the firebags,

through which air is admitted to the fire-bags above the throat of thefurnace. The firebags are provided with an offset, K, which forms thecontracted throat of the furnace, and by which the gas from the fuel iscompressed, so that when it passes the offset K and mingles with the aircoming through the flues I the volume of gas and air will be expanded inthe larger portions of the fire-bags.

The bottom of the kiln is divided into three separate chambers, locatedbelow the floor of the kilnthe central chamber, L, and the two sidechambers, M-the side chambers, M,

being separated from the central chamber, L, by the dead or partitionwalls N, and extending around the outer edge of the perforated floor.The central chamber communicates with the arch or fine 0 throughopenings 1, formed on each side of the arch or 'llue O,said flue 0 beingprovided with a valve or sliding door, a, by which the draft through thecentral portion of the kiln is regulated or entirely out off. The archor flue 0 extends clear through the bottom of the kiln and communicateswith the smoke-stack Q. The side chambers eol'nmunicate with the flue Oby means of suitable ducts, b,whi ch are controlled by suitable dampersor valves,c.

Suitable and numerous openings are formed in the bottom of the kiln,which form a connection between the kiln and the chambers L and M, andover this bottom is placed a supplemental bottom, .1, which is providedwith numerous perforations, and on which the bricks or tiles to beburned are placed, it being understood that the articles are placed inthe kiln to leave spaces between, so that they will be subjected on allsides to the action of the calorific currents.

In operation the fires are lighted in the furnace G and the gases andflame find their way up through the lire-bags II and into the main bodyof the kiln at the top of the fire-bags. The hot air coming up throughthe chamber Gis mingled with the products of combustion, and the sameare ignited and consumed in the main body of the kiln, the flame passingdown through the brick or tile and the waste products passing into thechambers L and l\i[,and thence to the smoke-stack, as has beenheretofore explained. If it is desired to carry the flame through thecenter of the kiln into the chamber L, the dampers or valves 0 areclosed and the valve a opened. This closes the draft through thechambers M and draws the flames toward the center of the kiln. If,however, it is desired to direct the flame to the sides of the kiln, thedampcror valve (6 is closed,whieh cuts off the draft through the centralchamber, L, and the heat is directed to the sides of the kiln and intothe chambers M, and from thence to the main ilue or stack. It will benoticed that bythis arrangement the operator is enabled to direct theflame to any portion of the kiln desired, and in this way a uniformburning of the articles is insured.

The most exposed portions of the kiln-such as the fire-bags and theinner wall, 13-are made of fire-brick. The outer wall and pen tions notexposed to theflamc may be made of common brick.

The kilns are provided with the usual doors or openings, through whichthey are filled and discharged,

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A kiln for burning brick, tiles, 850., of the character described,having the separate chambers L and M,located below, the perforated floorof the kiln, said chambersbeing connected to a common line or arch, andeach independently controlled by suitable dampers or valves, as setforth.

2. In a brick-kiln, the chambers M, located below the perforated floorand at the sides of the kiln, said chambers being connected to the maindraft-flue by suitable ports or lines which are controlled by suitabledampers, as set forth.

3. In kilns for burning brick, tiles, &c.. the furnaces located in theouter walls and communicating with the interior of the kiln by means ofthe fire-bags II, in combination with the air-space O, communicatingwith the interior of the kilns by means of the ports F, whereby thegases from the furnace are supplied with hot air to complete combustion,as set forth.

4-. In a brick or tile kiln, the firebags H, provided with the offset K,forming a contracted threat at the rear of the furnace, as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a brick or tile kiln of the character described, the flue E,joining the hotair spaces 0 of two adjacent kilns, whereby the heat ofone kiln is transferred to the other, as set forth.

JOHN I. KNAPP.

JOSEPH O. MeKENZIE.

\VILLIAM HUMPHREY.

In presence of- R. B. ROBBINS, L. R. BURR.

